Missy and Annie spent some time grooming on the platform outside this afternoon. It had just started to sprinkle, so Missy covered herself up with a blanket to stay dry.
When chimps find something good during grooming (usually a piece of dead skin), they will often inspect it. Here, Annie is holding out her lower lip to check something out.
We love you, Karen! :)
Missy seemed to be having a great time working on a food puzzle this morning. Chimpanzees engage in solitary play quite often, but I can’t remember seeing anyone smile so much in the process.
Annie and Missy never seem to tire of each other. Maybe it’s because they’re always thinking up new ways to play. This morning, during a lengthy play session, Annie decided to stand on Missy.
Volunteers Amanda and Tennyson helped us build a new enrichment device for the chimps. The woven fire hose has pockets to stick browse in (browse includes leaves, branches and twigs – an important part of a chimp’s diet). Many thanks to Chimps Inc. and the Honolulu Zoo for the idea! Annie, Missy and Jody spent hours picking out the cattails, bamboo and fennel.
While we were installing the browse feeder, we also hung a few more fire hose swings near the new windows. As you can see, they created the perfect game for Missy.
Today we celebrated Missy’s 35th Birthday. What a great day! We set the party up first thing this morning and scattered tons of gift bags of goodies from Dick and Robbi, and set up a forage of oranges, peaches, carrots, frozen cantaloupe, and “night bags” (or “breakfast bags”, if you will) of sunflower seeds, which were hidden inside the gift bags. The chimps loved the party and were in excellent moods for the duration of the day!
If you are friends with Missy or any of the Cle Elum Seven chimps on Facebook, you might have seen posts this morning about another birthday fundraiser. It’s not too late to participate- send us a $35 donation and I’ll email a special gift to you and a friend (be sure to put your friend’s email in the gift note section of the donation form). She’s celebrating with her friends, why don’t you celebrate with a friend as well?!
Missy:
Negra enjoying her “breakfast bag”:
Burrito and Foxie enjoying some frozen cantaloupe:
Jamie, in true spirit of a party:
Missy eating a carrot:
Here’s a peek at the party:
Jody and Missy are master nest-builders. I managed to get some recent photos of them making midday nests.
Jody’s step one: stand in the middle of the nest and build it around you.
Jody’s step two: include both sheets and blue paper in the nest for full comfort
Jody’s step three: dive face first into the bed (this movement often accompanied by a “Jody happy noise”)
Jody’s step four: enjoy the comfort you’ve created
Missy’s step one: first see if someone will play with you if you put a blanket over your head
Missy’s step two: if no one takes the play bait, proceed with nest-making by placing blankets around you where you sit
Missy’s step three: unfold and place blankets carefully
Missy’s step four: do a headstand
Missy’s step four: roll into a comfortable position and enjoy
Missy managed to get three of the seven onions that were just harvested from the garden:
When Missy was done with them, Jamie finished them off:
Annie enjoyed the carrots from Cloudview Ecofarm:
Burrito munched on lettuce:
Jody, as usual, laid down to eat:
The promised video from today’s festivities:
Don’t forget to donate $34 for Foxie’s 34th birthday to get a fun surprise in your inbox!
Get your own copy of the book Sanctuary: Year One. Forward by Jane Goodall. Full of amazing photos of the Cle Elum Seven. Shop for all items in the online store.
